The streets around Nottingham Forest's City Ground are no stranger to waves of red flags and scarfs. Yet on Tuesday (June 10), Trent Bridge was also awash with shades of blue and white.
That's because the city is hosting England's friendly against Senegal as Wembley - England's traditional home - enters concert season. The last time The Three Lions played at the City Ground, Winston Churchill was Prime Minister and the Second World War was well underway.
It was 1941 and a friendly match between England and Wales. Now more than 80 years later, Nottingham is once again hosting The Three Lions - bringing in thousands of fans from across the country. "It's a great opportunity for us to showcase what we can offer as a city," says Mark James, the owner of The Boot Room pub.
Appropriately situated directly opposite the stadium's main entrance and fan shop, the pub is often packed on Forest match days. Tuesday was no different, with herds of England and Senegal fans sprawling out from the bar onto the path outside the pub.
"It benefits local businesses and it's an added bonus," Mark continued. "In this industry, things aren't easy. We take everything such as this as a great value to our yearly income. It puts Nottingham on the map - you've got live music events at other team's grounds.
"This puts Forest in that echelon and now the FA and the rest of England are looking at Nottingham as a place to come. I believe 95% of the customers coming tonight are going to be from outside of Nottingham. It's a great opportunity for us and for the city and it's long overdue."
Trent Bridge was full of fans walking to the City Ground, with crowds gathering at various venues along the way. Mark Atkinson and Kyle Chamberlain, from Burton upon Trent, have been to the city before to watch matches - but they say the atmosphere building up to this England friendly is different.
"The city's got a great ground and great fans - everything's local in Nottingham and it's brilliant," said Mark.
"Everything's always at Wembley - being up north, you always have to travel down. We just met some Geordies, some lads from Durham. It's easy to get here. England fans travel everywhere - but Nottingham is brilliant.
"It's so easy to get here," added Kyle. "We got here at 1.30pm and have been out in the city centre since. The beer's cheap - especially compared to Wembley."
As you walk off Trent Bridge and onto Pavilion Road, leading to the ground's main entrance, you pass Cloughie's Cob Stop. Fans queued up at a slot in the window, with cobs being served until kick off at 7.45pm.
With a name referencing the Reds' beloved former manager, Brian Clough, it's no surprise the sandwich shop is popular on match days. Yet today, cobs are being served to first-time customers from across the country.
"We've had a fair few people come all over from different places," says owner Jessica Beales. "Because it's an England match, there's people from everywhere. When you get people from those different areas, that puts us a good light.
"They come in and then pass on our name to their friends - it puts our business out there a bit more." Stands selling England and Senegal merch set up shop in various locations, spanning from the end of Arkwright Walk at the border of The Meadows, to right outside the City Ground's entrance on Pavilion Road.
Proudly sporting an England shirt, Simon Lincoln-Smith had travelled from Weston-super-Mare with his two children to attend the game. "It took about three-and-a-half hours to get here," he added.
"It's my first time up here and it's lovely. I wish we could have got in beforehand to have a look at the ground. There's a really good atmosphere and we've also got a lot of Senegal supporters here."
Preparations for the 2026 World Cup continue with the fixture at the City Ground. Reds fans will be hoping to see midfielder and fans' favourite Morgan Gibbs-White get some minutes on home soil. Gibbs-White starts on the bench in Tuesday's friendly.
The Forest man has made three senior appearances for the Three Lions and is awaiting a start under boss Thomas Tuchel.